Raising an eyebrow at the blonde blocking his path, Elijah straightened the front of his suit jacket as he looked down at her, waiting for her to start the confrontation she was clearly there for.
"You've really hurt her," Caroline started, eyes narrow as she glared at the Original towering over her, "I don't care that you're some big, bad Original, you've hurt one of my best friends."
Arm snapping out to block the doorway, Caroline's narrowed gaze turned into a fully-fledged glare as she stopped the man in front of her from walking past.
Tongue darting out to lick his lips, Elijah let out a soft huff of breath, shaking his head slightly.
"Yeah, I get it, Elijah, you think I owe you some sort of respect because you're ancient and you can kill me whenever you choose; guess what? I don't care." She shrugged, bringing her other arm up to block both sides of the doorway when she saw Elijah's eyes dart in that direction. "She thinks she's responsible for destroying your family because you're being a jackass!"
"Miss Forbes-"
"I'm not done." Caroline interrupted, raising an eyebrow at the gobsmacked vampire, easily ignore the shock rolling off of his siblings. "You're clearly not used to people laying it out straight for you, so here I am. The bond you and Elena have has nothing to do with this entire situation, because it clearly doesn't mean crap to you, aside from being able to use it as an excuse to do whatever the hell you want, and expect Elena to forgive you anyway."
"That is not-"
"Still not done." Caroline shook her head, grinning falsely at him. "She's been over the moon; singing your praises, and you've broken her in a day. Fix your stupid mistake, or I swear to whoever is listening that I will find a way to make you hurt the same way you've hurt her."
"What, exactly, do you think will keep me from removing you from the situation entirely?"
Caroline laughed. "You might be a jackass, but you wouldn't do that to Elena; you know she would hate you forever."
Elijah raised an eyebrow at her, pursing his lips slightly before lapsing into a false smile. "Of course. Am I permitted to walk through my own house now?"
Holding her stance blocking the doorway for a few more moments, Caroline eventually nodded, stepping to the side to allow Elijah to finally follow after Elena.
"Elena."
Head darting up, Elena met his eyes briefly for a moment before closing hers tightly, gritting her jaw and shaking her head softly.
After a moment, she opened her eyes again, offering a soft smile and another soft shake of her head. "Sorry, everything's a bit cloudy up here still." She murmured, waving absently at her head; her gaze following her hand as it fell back to her lap, fiddling with the hem of her top. "Hopefully Kol knows something about what Hayley did."
"How are you feeling?" Elijah asked softly, sitting beside Elena at the foot of her bed. "You were unconscious for some time."
"Klaus said things got…complicated while I was out." Elena muttered, continuing to fiddle with her shirt; refusing to even consider looking up at Elijah. "I-I hurt you."
"No," Elijah breathed, turning his body to face Elena, instinctively going to take her hand before Caroline's words rang in his head, "your unconscious mind was tortured by this spell, you…" Trailing off, Elijah realised he was at a loss for words to make the situation okay for Elena.
"I said something, or did something, didn't I? Something that upset you?"
Elijah let out a long breath, turning away from Elena to stare vacantly forward. "You were not yourself, Hayley is responsible for all of this, not you. Never you." He whispered, words nearly lost to the woman beside him.
"Hayley isn't the only person at fault here, Elijah. We still haven't figured out who actually cast the curse on me, they could have manipulated Hayley any number of ways."
"Why are you defending her?" Elijah exploded suddenly, launching himself up from where he was sat on the bed. "She is to blame for your illness! For tearing our bond apart! She would feed you to the wolves in the blink of an eye! Yet you sit before me and defend her?"
Whirling around to face Elena, he deflated at the drawn look on her face. The sudden re-emergence of her lucidity and health had clearly only been a brief flash in the grand scheme of things. Her normally olive complexion was pale and clammy, and her eyes lidded and glistening as she looked up at him.
"What would you rather me do?" She returned eventually, having watched the rage seep from Elijah as quickly as it had appeared. "Spend the only time I have as myself filled with rage and anger? Because I wouldn't; I'm tired, Elijah."
Striding back to the bed to crouch in front of Elena, he took hold of her hands, the frozen skin a stark contrast to the sweat on her brow. "You can't give up, Elena, not for one moment."
"You have."
"I don't-"
"You're acting like I'm already dead, Elijah." She persisted, her voice quiet but not for lack of harsh sincerity. "Your obsession for punishment and answers…you're acting like a bereaved man, not like one who's still got the people he cares about around him."
"Elena…"
"She's hurt us, Lijah, I know that; I'm suffering that, but instead of pulling together to help each other, you've drawn away from me, more intent on revenge than healing."
"How on Earth do you…" Elijah trailed off, shaking his head softly, already knowing the answer to his question, despite how long it had been since he'd seen such a display from her.
"'Your compassion is a gift, Elena.'" She quoted softly, bringing his hands up to her mouth to place a soft kiss on them. "I mocked you with those words once, and now…I wonder how you wrote them with such regard and yet forget where I stand."
Bowing his head lightly in shame, Elijah said nothing, once again finding that Elena was the only person on Earth who could really render him speechless, whether good or bad.
He could cope with any anger that may be flung his way, he had expected it, certainly. Between the cold glances from his brother and the lecture from Caroline, so bold and fearless in the protection of her friend. Yet, this quiet, calm disappointment was leading him to realise levels of pain he'd never thought or known to be possible. The pain of letting her down was simply agony.
Of course, Elena would offer compassion to the woman who'd cursed them, despite the pain she was suffering at Hayley's hands. So long it had been since she had worn the calm veil of benevolence and understanding that he had almost forgotten just how sure she was in her determination to offer second chances.
And yet, was that the very reason he had brushed aside her opinions on the matter?
Her views would easily see her hurt more than she ever had any right to be – more than he could ever bear witness to. Surely he had to protect her from that? From her compassion turning her into a doormat to be trodden upon?
Christ, was this what the Salvatores thought? Was he really that far gone?
"I'm sorry." He whispered eventually, aware of her taking her hands back, using them to gently tilt his face up to hers.
"It's alright." She smiled, her voice and movements all coloured with lethargy. "We have a lot to learn, Elijah, both of us do."
Nodding softly, Elijah let out a soft breath, dipping his forehead to rest on hers. "I'm here now; I want to learn."
"Well?"
Elijah let out a low breath at the question, shaking his head slightly. "The fever has taken her again, Miss Forbes has gone to sit with her."
Klaus nodded softly, offering Elijah a glass of whiskey with a vague gesture, pouring the aforementioned measure when his brother nodded.
"Thank you," Elijah said quietly, accepting the glass, "for looking after Elena."
"Well, you have essentially decided that she is our family now, we look out for each other, Elijah."
"Aside from when you're trying to stick a dagger in our backs, you mean." Rebekah said pointedly, striding into the room and dropping into a seat on the couch.
Klaus shrugged. "Well, that there is a personal grievance, strictly between family, you see. Can't be having the common lot out there thinking that any of us is fair game for an attack."
Elijah and Rebekah shared a glance, the latter rolling her eyes at their half-brother's response.
"Delightful, Nik. Have you ever thought that if you would stop turning on us in the blink of an eye then perhaps we wouldn't merely have to put on a front for other people? You know, like an actual family?"
"Perhaps you should simply stop betraying me." Klaus parried, a sigh escaping Elijah as his younger siblings began to bicker…again.
Tiredly, Elijah took a seat in his own chair, sipping at his drink and rubbing his brow. Why on earth his millennia old siblings had to act like five-year-olds he would never understand.
"Rebekah is right." He interjected eventually, holding a hand up to cease his sisters victorious gloat as they turned to face him. "As is Niklaus." He paused, allowing the pair to exchange a confused and yet still mildly gloating look. "This fighting between our family has to stop now."
Klaus cocked a curious eyebrow at him. "Well, I never, our ever-rational brother has re-entered the room at long last."
"I had a lapse in judgement," Elijah agreed, taking another sip of his drink, "but that is all it was. We have enemies conspiring to take our family down, so that is what we have to be, a family, now more than ever."
"You would have us just forgive Nik for all the daggers and the bloodshed?" Rebekah scoffed, shaking her head. "Just like that?"
"Of course not." Elijah sighed, ignoring the look he received from Klaus in return. "We simply must learn to work together to protect the things we hold dear to us."
"At the moment it would appear that you're the one who needs schooling in that, brother." Klaus snarked. "We're not the ones leaving Elena all alone to go and torture the wench in the basement after all."
"And for that I thank you," Elijah said easily, "surprisingly enough, Niklaus, you have embodied exactly the attitude that our family needs now."
"Love is weakness, Elijah, this foolish notion of yours will land our family in ashes in no time."
"No, Niklaus, love is strength. Pulling away from that is what has nearly landed our family in ruins, nothing else. This…situation with Elena has only proved that."
"You-"
Any argument Klaus could have started was forced to a quick conclusion by the sound of Caroline screaming for help. Launching into a sprint, the three Originals flew from the room, making into Elena's bedroom just as a blue orb disappeared from sight.
Caroline lay in a bundled heap on the floor, a soft groan escaping her as she rolled her neck; quickly taking Klaus's attention as he rushed to her side, Elijah having instantly gone to Elena.
"Caroline?" Klaus called softly, lifting her face up to look at him. "Love, are you alright?"
Lurching awkwardly to her feet, Caroline stumbled, falling into Klaus. "We need to find out what Hayley did; I think she messed with something she really shouldn't've."
HisSecretLover18: Oooh, interesting theory! Maybe we'll find out what would happen soon... Thank you!
Elejah88: Oh lawd he's a'comin'! Not sure exactly when, but he'll be back!
Guest: Oh it's gruesome but maybe it's needed... Nah, I won't go quite that far, but Hayley is getting pretty annoying! Awh I'm glad you enjpyed them, it was a lot of fun to write! I also love an angry Elijah, but I think we need a bit more of our darling back! always loving the chef's kisses!
lauramorgenstern: Awh thank you! I'm so glad it came across okay, we're always so much more critical of our own writing! I'm glad it was a good confusing!
Whoop whoop!
Yessss, that's kind of what I was going for, a bit abrupt maybe on Klaus's end, but some of that will be debated and explained more the further we get on! They're definitely missing out on members of their family!
Mcguiness21: Here I am!
Manu: Awh thank you so much! I'm back now!
Guest: Right now! So glad you're enjoying!
Whelp, I really struggled on this chapter again, life has been crazy and I just could not get in the flow with this one :( Hopefully you all still enjoy it!
Let me know what you think!
Until next time
~ I x